First foundation pile for the heart of the campus of Erasmus University Rotterdam

Launch of a lively and sustainable campus

The campus of Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) is being given a face lift. First of all the core of the university area is being transformed into the beating heart of a campus that includes a Plaza and a student pavilion. The deputy mayor of Rotterdam Hamit Karakus (spatial planning and real estate portfolio) recently drove home the first foundation pile. The project is part of the redevelopment of the university site to create a more lively and sustainable campus.

Viewed by the watchful eyes of staff, students and invitees deputy mayor Hamit Karakus drove in the first foundation pile of the underground car park, which had been painted by students, in the deep construction site. Afterwards balloons were released from a gigantic globe to underline the international character of the new campus.

The festive ceremony on the construction site marked the start of the building work on the campus heart which will shortly comprise the Erasmus Plaza, an underground car park and the student pavilion. The Plaza is a spacious avenue creating the formal entry to the area. Below the Plaza will be a semi-underground car park with 1,022 parking spaces which is intended to ensure that the campus has few cars and is greener.

The students’ pavilion will be located at the junction of the main axis of the Erasmus Plaza and Institutenlaan. The building is intended to be a meeting place for the university and the community at large. The multifunctional pavilion has a theatre, large flexible spaces, internet work places and a brasserie. The openness of the building emerges for one thing in the transparent facades. The sustainable and energy neutral pavilion has solar panels on the roof and thermal energy storage.

Measures
While the building work is going on endeavours will be made to reduce inconvenience to a minimum for staff, students and people living in the vicinity. The pile driving work will be carried out as fast as possible and various sound reduction measures have been taken. Exams, doctorate award ceremonies and (inaugural) addresses have been relocated elsewhere.

The building of the campus heart is part of the redevelopment of the university terrain to create a more lively and sustainable campus of international calibre. Bart Straatman, member of the Executive Board of the university, says that the campus that was built in the late sixties badly needed renovating: “We are trying to create a physically attractive and sustainable environment for students and staff. We want a campus that is in keeping with its time and fits Erasmus University’s ambitions. I’m glad that after years of preparation we can begin building the campus heart.”

Student housing is also going to be built in the coming years while the C building will be modernised and the outside areas will be given a facelift. The northern part of the campus will be transformed to become more park-like with plenty of greenery while the southern part will have more high-rise buildings. Woudenstein’s new campus heart is due to be ready in mid-2013 for the start of the festivities to mark the university’s centenary.

More information on: www.eur.nl/campusvanmorgen

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Press information Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR), (010) 4081216 or press@remove-this.eur.nl